Jahnke: Fantasy football reactions from the Packers’ TNF win over the 49ers

The story coming into this game was the number of players out either due to Covid-19 or injury. Those trends didn’t get any better during the game, with at least five more players leaving with injuries. The 49ers were missing more players than the Packers, including the vast majority of their offense, which contributed to a decisive victory for Green Bay.

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As always, this collection of fantasy reactions will include snap counts for skill players on each team, along with notes on players who saw their fantasy stocks rise or fall during the action — and how we should react to anything new.

Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers

Winner: QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Rodgers was efficient all game, completing 25 of 31 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns. Rodgers has been QB7 on the season despite the Packers already having their bye week. He got his favorite receiver, Davante Adams, involved early and the superstar WR finished with 173 yards on 10 catches and a touchdown. Marquez Valdes-Scantling turned both of his catches into touchdowns. Despite putting up a lot of fantasy points, Valdes-Scantling should remain on the waiver wire. Allen Lazard should be back soon, and he will limit Valdes-Scantling’s playing time and targets.

Loser: RB JaMycal Hasty, San Francisco 49ers

Hasty was expected to be the early-down back for the 49ers in this game. San Francisco was expected to pass a lot without its starting quarterback, top three wide receivers and top tight end. Both the 49ers and the game script had other plans. Even early in the game, Jerick McKinnon was playing the majority of the time on first and second down. McKinnon had played significantly on early downs in Weeks 3 and 4 but hadn’t seen much volume since then. 

The 49ers were down by their first drive and were never in position to run significantly. Hasty was held to three yards on four carries, along with two catches for 10 yards. Going forward, McKinnon seems like the back to roster until one of the other 49ers running backs comes back. I still wouldn’t cut Hasty yet in case he does end up with a bigger role.

Returning From Injury: RB Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Jones returned after missing the last two weeks with a calf injury. Backup running backs Jamaal Williams and A.J. Dillon both missed the game after being placed on the Covid-19 list. This may have contributed to the Packers’ decision to play Jones, who ended up playing his usual amount of snaps. He ran for 58 yards on 15 carries and caught all five passes thrown his way for 21 yards. It wasn’t his best performance, but it came against a 49ers team that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. 

Waiver Wire Target: TE Jordan Reed, San Francisco 49ers

Reed’s return was the one positive piece of injury news San Francisco had in the past week. Reed had a great performance in Week 2 with 50 yards on seven catches and two touchdowns but was hurt in Week 3. Because there were so many injuries coming into the game, Reed was the 49ers’ best receiving option on paper. San Francisco eased him into action and he only had one catch for three yards. He is still worth a waiver wire add because he should be more involved in the offense going forward. Richie James Jr. ended up being the receiving star for San Francisco — he caught nine passes for 184 yards and a touchdown. James can be left on the waiver wire, as he probably won’t see much if any playing time when the other 49ers receivers return.